The Continuance of Certain Laws Act 1772 ( 12 Geo. 3. c. 56) was an act of the

Parliament of the United Kingdom The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, and may also legislate for the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories. It meets at the Palace ...

that continued various older acts.

Background

In the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

, acts of Parliament remain in force until expressly repealed. Many acts of parliament, however, contained time-limited sunset clauses, requiring

legislation Legislation is the process or result of enrolling, enacting, or promulgating laws by a legislature, parliament, or analogous governing body. Before an item of legislation becomes law it may be known as a bill, and may be broadly referred ...

to revive enactments that had expired or to continue enactments that would otherwise expire.

Provisions

Continued enactments

Section 1 of the act continued the Exportation Act 1730 ( 4 Geo. 2. c. 29), as continued by the Customs, etc. Act 1736 ( 10 Geo. 2. c. 27), the Continuance of Laws, etc. Act 1742 ( 16 Geo. 2. c. 26), the Continuance of Laws Act 1750 ( 24 Geo. 2. c. 52), the Passage from Charing Cross Act 1757 ( 31 Geo. 2. c. 36) and the Continuance of Laws Act 1763 ( 4 Geo. 3. c. 11), from the expiration of the act until the end of the next session of parliament after 29 September 1778. Section 2 of the act continued the Importation Act 1721 ( 8 Geo. 1. c. 12) "as relates to the importation of wood and timber, and of the goods commonly known as

Lumber Lumber is wood that has been processed into uniform and useful sizes (dimensional lumber), including beams and planks or boards. Lumber is mainly used for construction framing, as well as finishing (floors, wall panels, window frames). ...

, therein particularly enumerated, from any of His Majesty's British plantations or colonies in America, free from all customs and impositions whatsoever", as continued by the Continuance of Laws, etc. Act 1742 ( 16 Geo. 2. c. 26), the Continuance of Laws Act 1750 ( 24 Geo. 2. c. 52), the Continuance of Laws, etc., (No. 2) Act 1757 ( 31 Geo. 2. c. 35) and the Continuance of Laws Act 1763 ( 4 Geo. 3. c. 11), from the expiration of the act until the end of the next session of parliament after 29 September 1778. Section 3 of the act continued the Manufacture of Sail Cloth Act 1735 ( 9 Geo. 2. c. 37), as continued by the Continuance of Laws, etc. Act 1739 ( 13 Geo. 2. c. 28), the Continuance of Laws Act 1750 ( 24 Geo. 2. c. 52), the Passage from Charing Cross Act 1757 ( 31 Geo. 2. c. 36) and the Continuance of Laws Act 1763 ( 4 Geo. 3. c. 11), from the expiration of the act until the end of the next session of parliament after 29 September 1778. Section 4 of the act continued the Colonial Trade Act 1738 ( 12 Geo. 2. c. 30), as continued by the Universities (Wine Licences) Act 1743 ( 17 Geo. 2. c. 40), the Continuance of Laws (No. 2) Act 1750 ( 24 Geo. 2. c. 57), the Continuance of Laws, etc., (No. 2) Act 1757 ( 31 Geo. 2. c. 35) and the Continuance of Laws Act 1763 ( 4 Geo. 3. c. 11), from the expiration of the act until the end of the next session of parliament after 29 September 1778. Section 5 of the act continued the Importation (No. 3) Act 1765 ( 5 Geo. 3. c. 10) from the expiration of the act until the end of the next session of parliament after 1 August 1778. Section 6 of the act continued the Making of Indigo, etc. Act 1770 ( 10 Geo. 3. c. 37), as relates to the Importation (No. 3) Act 1765 ( 5 Geo. 3. c. 10), from the expiration of the enactment until the end of the next session of parliament after 1 August 1774.

Legacy

The

Select Committee on Temporary Laws, Expired or Expiring The Select Committee on Temporary Laws, Expired or Expiring was a select committee of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain appointed in 1796 to inspect and consider all the temporary laws of a public nature, which were expi ...

, appointed in 1796, inspected and considered all temporary laws, observing irregularities in the construction of expiring laws continuance acts, making recommendations and emphasising the importance of the Committee for Expired and Expiring Laws. The whole act was repealed by section 1 of, and the schedule to, the

Statute Law Revision Act 1871 A statute is a law or formal written enactment of a legislature. Statutes typically declare, command or prohibit something. Statutes are distinguished from court law and unwritten law (also known as common law) in that they are the expressed wil ...

( 34 & 35 Vict. c. 116).

Notes

References

{{Authority control Great Britain Acts of Parliament 1772 Repealed Great Britain Acts of Parliament Expiring laws continuance acts